Best Cozy Restaurants in Harbor Island

Animae for Valentine’s Day was a worthwhile epicurean adventure. Highest recommendation. Was it on the expensive side? Yes. One of the most expensive steaks I’ve ever eaten. Worth it. As the server said…decadent and unctuous. And the bonchon was perfect. Would have preferred to sit next to my date instead of across from, but I totally get it. Only so many tables and so much space. Our server was attentive, engaging, just the right amount of funny, and enhanced the experience. Every plate surpassed expectations by the 4oz A5 Miyazaki steak and deconstructed tuna crudo were my favorites.

What an AMAZING evening! The service at Cesarina was impeccable. Every person that approached us was warm, friendly and went out of their way to accommodate us. From the focaccia to the soup to the pastas and Tiramisu everything was delicious. We enjoyed an early Valentine’s celebration and it was lovely. The ambiance is cozy and warm. I especially loved the little touches of the hot water bottle and blankets to keep us toasty warm. Irish was so friendly, making time to check in on us and share the story of the restaurant. A true gem, can’t wait to return.

Happy hour looked like a great deal! We sat at the bar while waiting for our table. It’s such a treat coming here. Service is always impeccable. The spaghetti squash dish was sincerely out of this world. We split a steak and the squash and it was amazing. The Caesar salad had an anchovy across the top it looked intimidating but I tested it was not prepared for it to be such a good addition. Usually it’s minced into the dressing and is well covered. We went to Eddy V’s the night before. (Which was really good) But Hands down Island Prime for the win.

Seneca is the perfect restaurant for a special celebration. I took my good friend there for her birthday and from the moment we were greeted by the smiling hostess until the very end of service, we were treated exceptionally well. The service was extremely professional, yet warm and friendly. The food was phenomenal and we took our time and savored every delicious bite. We never felt rushed, despite it being a very busy night. Our table had a view of San Diego Bay, the airport, and a northwesterly view of the city. It was beautiful. We started with the arancini and scampi, which were both so delicious. We shared two pasta dishes - Cavatelli All Sugo Di Angelo and the Cacio E Pepe. I was a little sad that they changed the style of the Casio E Pepe, it was more like a macaroni & cheese, but was still tasty. The Cavatelli was perfect though! We ordered a dessert and they brought over a complimentary cannoli with a birthday candle for my friend. I highly recommend Seneca to anyone looking for a special place for not only a celebration, but to celebrate a wonderful meal.

Since it opened, C-Level has provided consistent levels of service, food quality and atmosphere. My friend’s Lobster BLT with bisque made me want to order it next time. She said I should. My Healthy Steaks on Fire salad was a good as I remember from many past visits. And Jessie’s service was above and beyond. Oh, and our cocktails were a great start, as were Jessie’s special coffees at the end!